Scones, Skulls & Scams by Leighann Dobbs Page B

here’s something—lipstick. We can make a mark on the side of the tunnel so we’ll know which direction to go in when we come back.”
    “Good idea,” Nans said.
    Helen sprinted to the section where the side tunnel cut off from the main one and made a mark, then sprinted back and opened her purse so Ruth could dump the items she’d been holding inside.  
    Okay, let’s keep moving.” Helen snapped her purse shut and they continued down the side tunnel. After a few feet, Lexy heard a crunch then saw Nans jump back and point her flashlight at the ground in front of her.
    Ruth, who had been right behind Nans, gasped.  
    “Holy bone fragments,” Ida said. “How many skeletons are down here?”
    Lexy looked at the floor in front of Nans where the bones of a full skeleton lay.  
    “This one has its head,” Helen said. “So it’s not the rest of Midas.”
    “I wonder who he is?” Ruth mused.
    “I think you mean she .” Lexy pointed to the wrist, which still wore a cluster of bangles.
    Nans bent down. “Well, I’ll be. Looks like Midas might have had female company down here.”
    Ruth crouched at the head, turning it slightly.  
    “And looks like she met the same fate,” she said pointing to a hole in the side of the skull.
    “She must have been shot right here and Midas was shot further down in the main tunnel.” Helen glanced back at the main tunnel. “That’s why she’s intact. Her body is in the offshoot here where the water doesn’t rush through, so her bones didn’t get washed down like Midas’ did.”
    “So you think she was shot along with Midas?” Ruth raised a brow at Helen.
    “That makes the most sense.” Helen bent down to inspect her bracelets. “These look like bangles from the 1940s era. They’re made from that old plastic—Bakelite. It’s very collectible today.”
    Lexy could see the twinkle in Nans’ eye as she aimed the beam of her flashlight into the dark tunnel.  
    “This is a good sign. I feel like we’re getting closer.” Nans practically skipped down the tunnel she was so excited.  
    Nans’ excitement must have been contagious, because Lexy could feel a tingle of anticipation working its way through her veins. What if the money really was down here after all these years? Would they be able to solve Midas’ murder? And find out who the other skeleton belonged to?
    As they continued, the tunnel grew narrower. They were forced to stoop over and it looked like they’d eventually have to crawl. Lexy felt the enthusiasm draining from her.
    “I don’t think I want to crawl down there,” she said. “And isn’t it getting late? I told Jack I’d be home by supper.”
    “Maybe we should turn back,” Ida said.
    “But I was sure something would be down here.” Nans’ face fell and Lexy’s heart crunched at the dejected sound in her voice.  
    “Maybe we can come back and explore another tunnel later,” Helen said as they all turned.
    “Yeah, I guess you guys are right.” Nans gestured with her flashlight for them to turn around.  
    Out of the corner of her eye, Lexy saw the beam from Nans’ flashlight glint off something on the wall.  
    “Wait a minute, what’s that?” She grabbed the light from Nans and pointed it at the side of the tunnel. The original concrete of the tunnel had obviously been chipped away at some point and new concrete patched up in its place. The new concrete was crumbling away on the edges and it looked like something was behind it … something that glinted like gold.
    “Hold on.” Nans lifted the flap on her giant purse and rummaged around inside coming up with a Swiss army knife. She flipped out the blade and approached the crumbling wall. Working the blade behind a crack, she wiggled and pushed until a fist-sized chunk of concrete fell out.
    Lexy held the flashlight to the hole and peered in, her stomach fluttering with excitement. “There’s something back there. It looks like a small room or hiding place … it’s hard